Remembering Merton, Milwaukee and War and Peace

I heard his name in the news today and recalled I had written Rembert a few years ago:

In one of those strange loops, I found myself remembering Tom and then realized you were with him on that fateful trip. I left Milwaukee 25 years ago and lost track of your (mis)fortunes. First let me say, that you were a significant inspiration for me to resist war in all its forms - that ultimate failure of the human spirit. For that sense of Peace I will be eternally grateful.

Second, every being who finds love for another is infinitely better off than one who does not (my thanks to Ludwig who so magnificently enhanced Friedrich). Human love sometimes stumbles into the abyss. For all the depth with which I love our God, this is a messy world he created. If it were not messy, we could not exist. I have no doubt the same God lives within you and me and everyone else.

Be assured that those of us who loved you then, love you now.

On Tue, 2006-02-28 at 11:17 -0600, Archbishop Rembert G. Weakland wrote:
Jim, Greetings from Milwaukee!

Thanks for your kind note. I said "Amen" to all that you wrote. It is never sinful to fall in love, only what you do with it. I agree that too many people are unable to minister to others because, through fear of making a mistake, they have cut themselves off from all emotional response to others. But sometimes we do get hurt by loving the wrong person. My lesson was to pick myself up and continue on and not lose my sense of self-worth and or
close myself off to others.

All goes well. I will be 79 in early April so I have slowed down, but remain in good health.

May God's blessings be many. Keep me in prayer. And, above all, keep that spirit of non-violence and anti-war. We certainly need it in today's world.

+Rembert, OSB